Michigan State players embrace challenge of containing Kansas State backcourt
New York, NY – Michigan State has faced dangerous point guards in each of its games to this point in the NCAA Tournament. In it’s East Region Semifinal game against Kansas State, however, Michigan State is facing arguably the best point guard in the tournament field in senior Markquis Nowell, who is averaging 17.1 points and 7.8 assists per game as an All-Big XII performer.
Michigan State and Kansas State will square off at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday (TBS) at Madison Square Garden.
“He’s a great player,” sophomore guard Jaden Akins said. “He’s getting like 20 and 10 over the last five games. Anybody that is doing that is a really good player. He is the engine that makes the team go, and we’ve just got to try and slow him down.”
Containing the quick, strong, 5-foot-8 Nowell is a critical priority for the Spartans against Kansas State, just as limiting Boogie Ellis (USC) and Tyler Kolek (Marquette) were focal points for Michigan State on its way to the Sweet 16.
“The past few games, we’ve been taking a little bit more pride in defense because defense wins championships, so coach has been putting a defensive side on us,” freshman point guard Tre Holloman said. “We all just get down and guard.”
Nowell is the straw that stirs the drink for Kansas State, but Keyontae Johnson is an athletic, strong wing who is hard to guard. The Spartans need to play effective defense against each of the Kansas State stars in order to advance to the Elite Eight.
“We are trying to stop those two guys because they are big one-on-one guys,” Holloman said. “We want to get out and run, so we have to stop them, and get out on the break.”
Michigan State’s backcourt has outplayed their counterparts against USC and Marquette. If they do it again in the Sweet 16 against Kansas State, it will be further evidence that the Spartans have as good a collection of guards as anyone in college basketball.
“We’ve got the best backcourt in the country, and I feel that for sure,” Holloman said. “Tyson (Walker) and AJ (Hoggard) are a 1-2 punch, and I feel that nobody can stop them. They get down and guard too.”
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Defending Nowell will take more than airtight on-ball defense. As was the case last time out against Marquette, Michigan State is facing a team that uses ball screens effectively to create space for its dynamic point guard. That means the Spartans need their bigs to step up and help out on ball screens.
“We’ve just really got to lock down their two guards,” freshman center Carson Cooper said. “We just have stay as tight as we can on them and force other guys to make plays. If we shut down those two guards and force other guys to make plays, it will be really tough for them.”
Defending Nowell begins with accurate intel, and Michigan State players believe in the scouting reports they’ve been given on the Kansas State star.
“I don’t even know if they sleep,” senior forward Joey Hauser said of Michigan State’s coaches. “They are constantly in there, watching film and making sure we’re prepared on what they are doing, what kind of ball screens they are running, where they are setting them, slipping out of them. We are ready for it.”
Starting center Mady Sissoko has shown growth as a ball-screen defender during the course of the NCAA Tournament. Sissoko is also getting help from Cooper.
“The experience that I’ve gotten in the last two games is really going to help me going forward, even next year and next season,” Cooper said. “Every little bit counts. I’m definitely more comfortable in my role.”
